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TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team out of luck at the race in Chile

01/19/2020

After a strong podium finish at the season-opener in Diriyah (Saudi Arabia), the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team was denied a further top result in the third race of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship 2019/2020 season in Santiago (Chile).

Race 3

Neel Jani was forced to retire from the race after just a few laps in his #18 Porsche 99X Electric. André Lotterer crossed the finishing line at the Santiago E-Prix in 22nd place in his #36 Porsche 99X Electric, but was later disqualified having exceeded the maximum permitted power amount. Victory went to Maximilian Günther, ahead of António Félix da Costa and Mitch Evans.

Having started the race from twelfth place, Jani was involved in a racing accident through no fault of his own on the first lap and had to head for the pits. He was able to return to the 2.287 km street circuit, but the damage to his car was so severe that it proved impossible to continue racing. Lotterer had qualified in 14th place but was involved in an incident in the race and also had to make a pit stop for repairs. He did manage to continue and get some important kilometres under his belt.

André Lotterer is in ninth place in the drivers’ standings; Neel Jani is currently in 23rd position. After three races, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is ninth in the team standings. The fourth race of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship 2019/2020 will take place on 15th February 2020 in Mexico City.

Reactions to the Santiago E-Prix

Amiel Lindesay (Head of Operations Formula E): “It was one of those difficult Formula E races with a few incidents. Unfortunately, the opening phase saw one of our cars damaged so severely that we had to make an early stop. Thanks to some great work from our mechanics, André was able to rejoin the race. It was an unlucky day for us, however moments like this are part of motorsport. Despite the result, there are some positive aspects, as the pace was there. We will go back on the attack in Mexico.”

Neel Jani (Porsche 99X Electric, #18): “We certainly had the potential to score some points. However, at the end of the first lap I was hit by another car as I turned in, which pushed me into the car next to me. That broke the front suspension on my car. Now we are looking ahead. If we continue to work hard until the next race we have a good chance of being competitive again. I remain positive despite the result. I only missed out on Super Pole by 0.15 seconds. We want to build on that in Mexico.”

André Lotterer (Porsche 99X Electric, #36): “Unfortunately, the race finished early for me and Neel after our collisions. It's a shame but it's part of Formula E sometimes. Starting the race from 14th place means that it can get a bit chaotic in the middle of the field. It was important that we were able to repair the car and return to the track. That allowed us to chalk us some more kilometres, to help us take another step forward in the next race.”

André Lotterer is in ninth place in the drivers’ standings

Santiago E-Prix questions and answers

Following the successful season-opener in November, with a second place for Porsche works driver André Lotterer (D) at the Diriyah E-Prix (Saudi Arabia), the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team travels to Chile for round three of the 2019/2020 ABB FIA Formula E Championship full of confidence. The goal for the Santiago E-Prix on 18th January 2020 is to finish in the points and gain more valuable experience in the process.

Neel Jani (Porsche works driver, #18)

How have you spent the past few weeks preparing for the Formula E race in Santiago de Chile?

“The two races in Saudi Arabia at the end of November were a steep learning curve for me and the whole team. I was not happy with my weekend. Over the past few weeks, we have worked hard and grappled intensively with all the details to analyse the areas where we still have room for improvement. The focus was on the car set-up and energy management. The difficulty is bringing everything together. Everyone has done their homework during the winter break, so let’s see how we get on in Chile. The goal is definitely to score points.”

What is your first impression of the circuit in Santiago?

“My first impression from the simulator is that the circuit is completely different to the one in Diriyah. It is more of a classic Formula E track, with tight corners and hairpins, not all that quick, and with fewer changes in elevation. The track has one of the longest straights. Of all the Formula E circuits on the calendar, this is where we could reach a high top speed. As far as the asphalt is concerned, there could also be variations, which will have an effect on the grip level and thus the car set-up.”

André Lotterer (Porsche works driver, #36)

What do you expect from the race in Chile after your successful season-opener?

“Generally speaking, I am cautiously optimistic about the race in Chile. We had a great start to the season in Saudi Arabia, but I am also aware that there is still room for improvement. As a new Formula E team, we still have a lot to learn. The break has been good for us, as it gave us time to analyse a lot of data. As such, I am confident that we will improve again in Chile. Whether we will have as good a race as in Saudi Arabia is hard to say. We must get through qualifying without any incidents, then we will have a good chance of picking up points. The potential is definitely there.”

What effect will the circuit have on the Porsche 99X Electric?

“Last year, it was hot in Santiago. That made the race very tiring for us drivers. The circuit has been updated for this season and should suit the Porsche 99X Electric. The philosophy behind the car set-up is definitely moving in the right direction.”

Amiel Lindesay (Head of Operations Formula E)

Has the successful start in Saudi Arabia changed the goals for Porsche’s first season in Formula E?

“We saw at the Diriyah E-Prix that the Porsche 99X Electric is competitive and capable of mixing it with the front-runners. Over the course of the season, however, it will be important to perform consistently in qualifying and to finish in the points in every race. These factors were key to success in recent Formula E seasons. We are confident that we have both the car and the team to succeed in this regard. Despite the positive start to the season, our goals remain the same; we are striving to get the maximum out of every race.”

What are the expectations of the race in Chile?

“Since Saudi Arabia, we have had enough time to examine our processes and to improve efficiency in certain areas. We will implement the findings we made at the coming race in Chile. We want to back up the success we enjoyed at the Diriyah E-Prix. Generally speaking, top-ten finishes and points are a realistic goal.”

Everything you need to know about the Santiago E-Prix

The format

Round three of Season 6 of the 2019/2020 ABB FIA Formula E Championship takes place in the centre of the Chilean capital, Santiago, in Parque O’Higgins. There is a short functional test (shakedown) on the eve of the race (17 January). Race day (18 January) starts with two free practice sessions; the first lasts 45 minutes, the second 30 minutes. In qualifying, the drivers are divided into four groups of six, based on the standings in the Drivers’ Championship. André Lotterer is currently sixth, so starts in group one while Neel Jani, in 21st place, goes in group four. The drivers each have six minutes to set the best possible lap time. The fastest six drivers across all the groups then qualify for the 20-minute Super Pole. This decides who will start the race from the first, second and third row of the grid. The race lasts 45 minutes plus one lap.

The track

The 2.287-kilometre street circuit in Santiago is a classic Formula E track, with narrow sections, hairpins and eleven corners in total. Two striking features are a long left-hander (Turn 8) and a long straight.

Media Package

Angus Thompson

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